Response variable

A response variable is the outcome you measure to see how it changes with the explanatory variable; it goes on the y-axis of a scatterplot.

The response variable, also called the dependent variable, is the outcome you expect to depend on the explanatory variable. It sits on the vertical axis and supplies the yy values in a regression, so the fitted line predicts it. For example, when studying how study time affects test scores, the test score is the response variable. A regression line estimates the mean response for each value of the explanatory variable.

More variables and data types terms, or browse the full statistics glossary.